I am pleased to report that Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) just received institutional review board approval to add Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida, as a clinical trial site for its stem-cell-derived treatment for people with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Bascom Palmer has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the best ophthalmology hospital in the U.S. for the last eight years, so they are no doubt a valuable addition to the study.
ACT’s clinical trial of its treatment for dry AMD is also taking place at UCLA and Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia.
The clinical trial of the same treatment for Stargardt disease is underway at UCLA and Wills, as well as Grampian University Hospitals and Moorfields Eye Hospital in the U.K.
Earlier this year, ACT announced encouraging results for the first two trial participants treated, one with dry AMD and the other with Stargardt disease. There were no adverse events, and the cells provided modest vision improvement.
The expansion of these studies to additional sites and the treatment of more participants will provide more information about the treatment’s potential for saving vision. I look forward to reporting additional clinical trial results as they are made available.
If you haven’t done so already, make sure you read Dr. David Gamm’s guest blog post on his outstanding stem cell research and the enormous potential it has as both a treatment and a research tool.
Steve is highly respected for his expertise and tireless commitment to finding treatments and cures for vision-robbing retinal diseases. 
As the Foundation's senior science writer, Ben writes science and research articles for the Foundation’s website, newsletters and Eye on the Cure blog. 
As the Foundation's senior writer, Rich writes and edits content for all of the Foundation’s print and online publications, including its blog, Eye on the Cure. 
Could this clinical trail also help my wife who is blind due to an atrophied retina in her right eye and optical nerve damage in her left eye. If clinical trails are being conducted could her name be added to the list asap? Please advise
Thanks
Mark
Thanks for posting Mark. Unfortunately, this Clinical trial is for those with dry AMD and Stargardt disease exclusively.
Which criteria has to be met in order to be admitted to this trial. My father has dry AMD, however he does not live in the U.S.
Thanks
Maria
Hi Maria, the enrollment status and criteria can be found on the listing at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01344993?term=dry+amd+advanced+cell+technology&rank=1
My mother has dry AMD and I was wanting to know how she could get on the list for the trial study at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you
Hi Debbie, thanks for commenting
Here is a link to the clinical trial listing as well as contact information at Bascom-Palmer:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01344993